A basic history follows, and more history/setting stuff will follow. If you want more detail on anything please let me know!

Dwarves and Trolls: The first four beings on Gia were born out of a great boulder. In the darkness they were born, and two went out into the light. The sun touched them, and they turned to stone. The others saw this, and they looked out at the light. They turned, and went into the darkness. The two who turned to the darkness were D'Racha and A'Lachae, and they were the first Dwarves. Those who went to the surface were Golaeg and Midorah, and they were the first Trolls. Goleag and Midorah moved again come the night, but would turn to stone in day. After a time, they became acclimated to light, and their children could move in the day, though more sluggishly than at night. They and their children traveled and lived simply, from Gia. D'Racha and A'Lachae dug deep, and built great halls under the mountains. They found glowing stones that lit the caverns of their children. After a time, some ventured into the light, and found themselves unharmed.

This is not how either of these ancient races would tell it today. The Trolls will tell you that they were first, and the Dwarves came later, crawling into the caves, for they could not subside on Gia's goodness. The Dwarves say that they were first, and the Trolls came later, being forced up, into the daylight, for they could not build.

Elves:

Elves are long-lived, but not immortal, and do not fear disease, for it may weaken them for a time, but never end them. Unless they are slain by accident or violence, they can expect to live half a century or more. The oldest Elf on record died at the age of 672.

The first elves arrived on Gia accidentally, a fleet in the ocean, landing finally on the land they named Elbereth, seeking their ancient homeland. They would not say what it was like, only that it was the most beautiful place in both worlds.

Orcs and Goblins:

Goblins are smaller and weaker than Orcs, and are generally subservient to them, but the two cousin races appear similarly, the differences mostly in size and strength. Orcs, however, are unharmed by sunlight, even if they dislike it. Goblins cannot stand it, for it pains their skins and souls. They appeared, five hundred years after the Elves landed in Elbereth. They spread their fleet to Elbereth, where they were killed, but others spread to other places, and established themselves in caves and plains. They are twisted and ugly, lacking the morals of other races.

Humans:

A thousand years after the Elves joined the Dwarves on Gia, Men arrived on ships to the Isles of Vinanando and Sanunen, now called Anetao Divia and Nien Divia. They said that they had came from the Isle of Norhaman, and that they were seeking new lands. Any history from before this has been lost, and though many have sought the legendary Isle, it has never been found.